The word spread pretty quickly on a slow day at the offices of Coaches Hot Seat members on Monday with many of our employees off work for Martin Luther King Jr. Day but when the news hit that…

Glenn Frey was Dead

…..it was like a Thunderstruck out of a clear blue sky that is still hard to believe.

There is a small group of core Coaches Hot Seat members that grew up in the 1970s and saw the Eagles and the Late Great Glenn Frey play 30 or so times across the states of California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon and Washington before the band broke up in 1980, and that small group of friends were together again when the Eagles performed in Atlanta in the Spring of 1994. In the last 20-plus years we have seen the Eagles play 15 to 20 times and the last time we were together and saw the Eagles in concert was in the Summer 2014 at Lake Tahoe and as always it was a Helluva concert.

Over drinks on Monday night we tried to count up all the times we saw the Eagles in concert with many of the 1970s concerts a wonderful haze of memories that included many times sitting in hotels bars after the concert with other Eagles fans in what could be described as something close to Pure Nirvana on the Earth BUT alas a totally accurate number could not be arrived at except…maybe 50 plus Eagles concerts!

We were lucky enough to have a few personal run-ins with Glenn Frey at the AT&T Pro-Am Championship golf tournament at Pebble Beach over the years with a friend of ours knowing Glenn pretty well and getting us around a table with drinks a few times at Pebble Beach or Carmel restaurants for nights that we will never forget. What we took away from those few times with Glenn Frey and seeing the Eagles in concert somewhere around 50 times over the past 40 plus years is that….

Life Must Be Lived With Passion and Fun

…and that as serious as we take work and family issues when you get right down to it some of the best advice someone could take on how to approach life is….

Take It Easy

Thank You Glenn Frey for some Incredible Music that will always exist and for some Great times that we will NEVER forget over the past 40-plus years!

….and during that trip on the way back home we stopped off in Aspen, Colorado for a few days to see the bar where the Eagles first played…The Gallery at the base of Aspen Mountain right by the Little Nell Hotel….and we have returned to Aspen hundreds of times since which is where Glenn Frey spent a good deal of time over the last four decades as well.

Not surprisingly Scott Condon of the Aspen Times has a great piece up tonight on Glenn Frey’s time in Aspen “partytown” that is a great read….

“Frey was a frequent visitor to Aspen in the 1970s and 1980s and part of the party scene.

“Everybody was into Bordeux red wine and blow back then,” Mooney said.

Frey confirmed to Oksenhorn that his 1982 song “Partytown” was partially inspired by Aspen.

Frey also got involved in the local golf scene. Tim Cottrell, the former proprietor of the Smuggler Land Office restaurant and bar, said the joint was the headquarters for celebrities in Ed Podolak’s High Country Shoot-out golf tournament and fundraiser. Buffett was initially the big-name star in the event. Frey later took over, Cottrell said. He recalled ribbing both Buffett and Frey at some of the tournaments for being on the wrong side of the ball, as they were lefthanders.

Buffett and Frey also faced off as competitors on the softball diamond, sort of. Buffett sponsored a team in the Aspen recreational league called the Downvalley Doughboys. Their logo resembled the Pillsbury Doughboy.

Frey was more competitive. He sponsored the “Werewolves” in Aspen’s A League, Mooney recalled.

“They played to win,” he said.

Frey eventually purchased Buffett’s house on Snowmass Creek Road, but as the years went on, he spent less time in Old Snowmass. Both properties are listed for sale through Aspen Realtor Craig Morris.

Frey played with Joe Walsh, who joined the Eagles well after their earlier appearances in Aspen, in a 2010 show at the Jazz Aspen Labor Day Festival. Oksenhorn had an excellent interview with Frey before that show.

Mooney was shocked to hear of Frey’s death Monday.

“He was a sweetheart. He was really kind and really happy. He knew he had a gift,” Mooney said. “He knew they were destined to be the biggest rock band on the planet.”

Mason said Frey’s death is yet another reminder to live every day like it’s your last.

21. Dave Clawson, Wake Forest – OK…OK…Wake Forest is not exactly the easiest job in FBS College Football especially when one realizes that in the last…

25 Seasons of Wake Forest Football

…the Demon Deacons have posted .500 or better records in…

7 Seasons of .500 or better football in the last 25 seasons

…which is…

28% of the time

….so maybe we shouldn’t be so hard on Dave Clawson because after all he has an impossible job…..right?

NOT!

Dave Clawson is being paid a Helluva lot of money to win football games at Wake Forest and in TWO seasons on the job Clawson has win/loss records on the board of…

Overall: 6 – 18

ACC: 2 – 14

….which is Pitiful…Just Pitiful!

If Dave Clawson goes 3 – 9 again in 2016 in our opinion he is DONE at Wake Forest….but then that’s just our humble opinion!

22. Brad Lambert, Charlotte – It’s not easy transition from FCS to FBS football as the Charlotte 49ers and head coach Brad Lambert learned in 2015 BUT then this is Big Boy Football on the FBS level and either Charlotte will start becoming more competitive in 2016 or the pressure will increase on Lambert who has been through some tough times no doubt BUT still has to win some football games.

In 2016 Charlotte plays games against..

LouisvilleElonEastern MichiganAt Temple8 Conference USA Games

….and after going 2 – 10 in 2015 we are setting a goal of…

4 – 8

…which is not great but would be a step-forward for the 49ers in this upcoming season so…

Get Your Ass and Get To Work Brad Lambert….Oh Coach Lambert is already working very hard? Well work harder son!

We don’t see why the Hell not but for Damn sure don’t lose to Montana State in the opener Petrino which will have a first-year head coach on the sideline!

24. Todd Graham, Arizona State – A running challenge here at Coaches Hot Seat is how fast can we figure out Arizona State’s defensive signals when at an ASU game in the opposite stands with binoculars in hand and generally we have the Sun Devils defensive signals down cold by the…

Beginning of the 2 nd Quarter

….and if we here at Coaches Hot Seat can do that in between drinking beer, eating nachos and watching the cheerleaders how the Hell fast do you think opposing teams can figure out Arizona State’s defensive signals?

A Helluva Lot Faster is the answer to that question!

Picked by some to be in the College Football Playoff before the season….which got a BIG LAUGH at Coaches Hot Seat….Todd Graham’s ASU team opened the season WEAK against Texas A&M and closed the season WEAK in their bowl game against a very Damn Average West Virginia team and now Todd Graham is in a position where a losing season in 2016 which will be his FIFTH season at the school and….

Well….Bozo the Clown could win SIX games minimum playing that schedule and thus why….

Todd Graham is DONE at Arizona State

…if he doesn’t win at least SIX games in 2016 and if we were the AD at Arizona State right now we would call Graham into our office and say:

“OK Graham….your defensive signals are being read by folks drinking beers in the stands so fix that son and if you win less than SEVEN games in 2016 you can go ahead and clean out your office on Friday November 25 after the Arizona game. Got it? Good!”

25. Chuck Martin, Miami (Ohio) – Chuck Martin came over from the OC job at Notre Dame to be the head coach at Miami (Ohio) in 2014 and in TWO seasons Martin has posted records of…

Overall: 5 – 19

MAC: 4 – 12

….and if that kind of football continues in 2016 for the Redhawks maybe Chuck Martin can return to Brian Kelly’s staff at Notre Dame as the OC because he sure the Hell won’t be the head coach at Miami (Ohio)!

26. Chris Creighton, Eastern Michigan – Chris Creighton took the Eastern Michigan job before the 2014 season after a nice run at Drake BUT in TWO seasons at EMU Creighton has records on the board of…

Overall: 3 – 12

MAC: 1 – 15

…and much like Chuck Martin if Creighton doesn’t get things going in year THREE in Ypsilanti then he might just be moving back down to the FCS level!

27. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt – Vanderbilt Football DID improve in Year 2 under Derek Mason going from a record of…

3 – 9 to 4 – 8

….and now we and a Helluva lot of other people are looking for a breakout season in Year 3 and let’s go to Vandy’s 2016 schedule to see just how many wins Mason and the Commodores SHOULD and COULD get:

28. Chad Morris, SMU – For all the talk of Chad Morris being some kind of…

Offensive Wunderkind

….there is a Helluva BIG difference between being an OC on the FBS level and a head coach on the FBS level and Chad Morris learned that in spades in 2015 with his SMU team posting a…

2 – 10

…record which included SEVEN games = losses that SMU had No Damn Chance in Hell of Winning!

Can Chad Morris get things turned around in 2016 and get the SMU Mustangs on track or will Morris burnout like a meteor in the Texas night sky?

Well…when the American Athletic Conference gets around to putting out the 2016 schedules we can have a guess at what SMU could do in the upcoming season which right now includes

North TexasBaylor TCU

Hmmm….that’s at least TWO losses for SMU in 2016!

We would recommend that Chad Morris find a way to get at least SIX wins in 2016 just in case someone at or around SMU has an itchy trigger finger and wants more out of Chad Morris than back-to-back losing seasons!

…and frankly we were expecting more out of Charlie than TWO straight 3 – 9 seasons and thus for Damn sure we are expecting more from Charlie in 2016 meaning…

At least SIX wins Charlie!

….or it could be the Chopping Block for Old Charlie in Boca!

30. Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech – Although Texas Tech and head coach Kliff Kingsbury got SEVEN wins in 2015 the Red Raiders destruction by an average LSU team in the Texas Bowl has put Kingsbury back on the Hot Seat and coaching in 2016 for his head coaching job and head coaching future because by Year FOUR on the job Texas Tech should be a Helluva lot better than a six or seven win team and thus why looking over Tech’s 2016 schedule….

“Selling eight million copies of your first album will mess you up.” Don Henley

And

“Sometimes you get the best light from a burning bridge.” Don Henley

And

“Well, I heard some people talkin’ just the other dayAnd they said you were gonna put me on a shelfBut let me tell you I got some news for youAnd you’ll soon find out it’s trueAnd then you’ll have to eat your lunch all by yourself

“Desperado, why don’t you come to your senses?You been out ridin’ fences for so long nowOh, you’re a hard one but I know that you got your reasonsThese things that are pleasin’ you can hurt you somehow

Don’t you draw the queen of diamonds boyShe’ll beat you if she’s ableYou know the queen of hearts is always your best bet

Now it seems to me, some fine thingsHave been laid upon your tableBut you only want the ones that you can’t get” Desperado, The Eagles

And

“Somebody’s gonna hurt someoneBefore the night is throughSomebody’s gonna come undoneThere’s nothin’ we can do

Everybody wants to touch somebodyIf it takes all nightEverybody wants to take a little chanceMake it come out right

Some dance to remember, some dance to forgetSo I called up the captain, “Please bring me my wine”He said, “We haven’t had that spirit here since 1969”And still those voices are calling from far awayWake you up in the middle of the night just to hear them say“Welcome to the Hotel CaliforniaSuch a lovely place(Such a lovely place)Such a lovely faceThey’re living it up at the Hotel CaliforniaWhat a nice surprise(What a nice surprise)Bring your alibis”Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on iceAnd she said, “We are all just prisoners here of our own device”And in the master’s chambers they gathered for the feastThey stab it with their steely knives but they just can’t kill the beastLast thing I remember I was running for the doorI had to find the passage back to the place I was before“Relax,” said the night man, “We are programmed to receiveYou can check out any time you like but you can never leave” Hotel California, The Eagles

And

“Look at us baby, up all night Tearing our love apart Aren’t we the same two people who live through years in the dark? Ahh… Every time I try to walk away Something makes me turn around and stay And I can’t tell you why” I Can’t Tell You Why, The Eagles

And

“Glowin’ and burnin’, blinded by thirstThey didn’t see the stop sign, took a turn for the worstShe said, “Listen baby, you can hear the engine ringWe’ve been up and down this highway, haven’t seen a goddamn thing”

He said, “Call the doctor, I think I’m gonna crash”“The doctor say he’s comin’ but you gotta pay in cash”They were rushin’ down that freeway, messed around and got lostThey didn’t care, they were just dyin’ to get off and it was

Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mindLife in the fast laneLife in the fast lane, everything all the timeLife in the fast lane

Life in the fast laneLife in the fast lane” Life in the Fast Lane, The Eagles

She gets up and pours herself a strong oneAnd stares out at the stars up in the skyAnother night, it’s gonna be a long oneShe draws the shade and hangs her head to cry

She wonders how it ever got this crazyShe thinks about a boy she knew in schoolDid she get tired or did she just get lazy?She’s so far gone she feels just like a fool

My oh my, you sure know how to arrange thingsYou set it up so well, so carefullyAin’t it funny how your new life didn’t change things?You’re still the same old girl you used to be

You can’t hide your lyin’ eyesAnd your smile is a thin disguiseI thought by now you’d realizeThere ain’t no way to hide your lyin’ eyesThere ain’t no way to hide your lyin’ eyesHoney, you can’t hide your lyin’ eyes” Lyin’ Eyes, The Eagles

And

“Harry got upDressed all in blackWent down to the stationAnd he never came back

They found his clothingScattered somewhere down the trackAnd he won’t be downOn Wall Street in the morning

He had a homeThe love of a girlBut men get lost sometimesAs years unfurl

One day he crossed some lineAnd he was too much in this worldBut I guess it doesn’t matter anymore

In a New York minuteEverything can changeIn a New York minuteThings can get pretty strange

In a New York minuteEverything can changeIn a New York minute” New York Minute, Don Henley

And

“I like the way your sparkling earrings layAgainst your skin so brownAnd I wanna sleep with you in the desert tonightWith a billion stars all around

‘Cause I got a peaceful easy feelingAnd I know you won’t let me down‘Cause I’m already standing on the ground

And I found out a long time agoWhat a woman can do to your soulAh, but she can’t take you any wayYou don’t already know how to go” Peaceful Easy Feeling, The Eagles

And

“Come on, baby, don’t say maybeI gotta know if your sweet loveIs gonna save meWe may lose and we may winThough we will never be here againSo open up I’m climbin’ inSo take it easy

Well, I’m a runnin’ down the roadTryin’ to loosen my loadGot a world of trouble on my mindLookin’ for a loverWho won’t blow my coverShe’s so hard to find

Take it easy, take it easyDon’t let the sound of your own wheelsMake you crazyCome on baby, don’t say maybeI gotta know if your sweet loveIs gonna save me

Oh we got it easyWe oughta take it easy” Take It Easy, The Eagles

And

“So put me on a highwayAnd show me a signAnd take it to the limit one more time

You can spend all your time making moneyYou can spend all your love making timeIf it all fell to pieces tomorrowWould you still be mine?

And when you’re looking for your freedom(Nobody seems to care)And you can’t find the door(Can’t find it anywhere)When there’s nothing to believe inStill you’re coming back, you’re running backYou’re coming back for more

So put me on a highwayAnd show me a signAnd take it to the limit one more time

Take it to the limitTake it to the limitTake it to the limitOne more time

Take it to the limitTake it to the limitTake it to the limitOne more time

Take it to the limitTake it to the limitTake it to the limitOne more time” Take It To the Limit, The Eagles

And

“It’s another tequila sunriseStaring slowly across the skySaid goodbye

He was just a hired handWorking on the dreams he planned to tryThe days go by

Every night when the sun goes downJust another lonely boy in townAnd she’s out running round” Tequila Sunrise, The Eagles

And

“Did you do it for love? Did you do it for money? Did you do it for spite? Did you think you had to, honey? Who is gonna make it? We’ll find out in the long run (in the long run) I know we can take it if our love is a strong one (is a strong one) Well, we’re scared, but we ain’t shakin’ Kinda bent, but we ain’t breakin’ in the long run Ooh, I want to tell you, it’s a long run in the long run in the long run” The Long Run, The Eagles

And

“So you live from day to dayAnd you dream about tomorrowAnd the hours go by like minutesAnd the shadows come to staySo you take a little somethingTo make them go away

And I could have done so many things, babyIf I could only stop my mindFrom wonderin’ what I left behindAnd from worrying ’bout this wasted time

Another love has come and goneAnd the years keep rushing onI remember what you told meBefore you went out on your own“Sometimes to keep it togetherWe got to leave it alone”

So you can get on with your search, babyAnd I can get on with mineAnd maybe someday we will findThat it wasn’t really wasted time” Wasted Time, The Eagles

And

“The sun goes down The night rolls in You can feel it starting all over again The moon comes up And the music calls You’re getting tired of staring at the same four walls You’re out of your room And down on the street Moving through the crowds through the midnight heat The traffic roars And the sirens scream You look at the faces, its just like a dream

Nobody know where you’re going Nobody cares where you’ve been

‘Cause you belong to the city You belong to the night living in a river of darkness, beneath the neon light” You Belong to the City, Glenn Frey